Lamp shade frame having a removable cover



Feb. 12, 1952 c. F. JOHNSON LA:--P SHADE FRAME HAVING A REMOVABLE COVER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Oct. 17, 1946 Feb. 12, 1952 c. F. JOHNSON 2,585,248

LAMP SHADE FRAME HAVING A REMOVABLE COVER Filed Oct. 17, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 fiatentecl Feb. 12 11952 LAMP SHADE FRAME HAVING A REMOVABLE COVER Clair F. Johnson, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application October 17, 1946, Serial No. 703,908

My invention relates to an improvement in lamp shades and deals more particularly with a concealed frame for fabric shades and the method of applying the same.

The manufacture of lamp shades of silk and similar cloths has long been a slow and clostly procedure. It is usual practice to cut the cloth for such frames to the. approximate size and shape and to individually tailor each cloth covering to its wire frame. The stitching of the cloth is a rather delicate procedure as, if the cloth is stretched too tightly at one point it will affect the appearance of other points of the covering. As a result such shades have been quite costly to produce even though the material used in the product is relatively inexpensive.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a means whereby silk shades may be produced on a volume basis at relatively low cost. The silk covering material is cut to a predetermined size and shape and then may be attached to the frame in an extremely short period of time without requiring unusual skill.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a frame construction for use with silk shades and the like, which is entirely concealed within the shade when the same is completed. The shade thus is neat in appearance and the entire frame work is concealed within the shade in completed form thereof.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a lamp shade frame including spaced supporting hoops each of which may be entirely concealed in the finished form of the shade. To accomplish this result at least one of the hoops comprises a pair of cooperable hoops between which the material may be clamped in such a Way as to entirely conceal the frame.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a lamp shade frame capable of supporting a cloth covering or the like in such a manner that it may be removed if necessary for cleaning or for replacement. In View of the relative simplicity of my construction it is entirely possible to replace the covering when-required.

As a result a new covering may be applied at intervals or the old covering may be removed and cleaned.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a lamp shade frame which supports a covering fabric stretched tautly thereover. My frame comprises a pair of cooperable hoops which clamp the marginal edges of the covering therebetween. By relative movement between these cooperable hoops the cloth covering may be. stretched to anydesired degree of tautness. V

10 Claims. (01. 240108) A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a frame which may permit the attachment of a cloth covering while the covering is loosely draped thereover and which may be operated to stretch the cloth tight by relative movement between the hoops. As a result the task of applying the covering is greatly simplified. v e 1 These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my specification: v

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lamp shade showing the general construction thereof.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through a portion of the top frame of the lamp shade. I

Figure 3 is a sectional view through a portion of the lower frame of the lamp shade.

Figure 4 is a perspective view partly in section showing a portion of the lower frame of the lamp shade.

Figure 5 is a sectional view through a portion of the top frame of the lamp shade in partially assembled position.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the section at a dilferent angular point of the frame.

Figure 7 is a sectional view through a portion of the lower lamp shade frame partially as,- sembled.

Figure 8 is asectional view through thetop frame of the lamp shade showing an alternate method of holding the coverings in place thereto.

Figure 9 shows a modified lower frame construction and the manner of attaching the same.

The completed lamp shade is best illustrated by the numeral A in Figure 1 of the drawings.

In general the. shade A includes an upper relatively rigid frame It and a lower relatively rigid frame II, which are connected together by angularly spaced wires or other connecting means I2. In usual form the upper frame [0 usually includes a series of inwardly extending, spokes.

such as [3, centrally provided with a fitting [4 by means of which the lamp shade may be supported. The particular .coupling l4 illustrated, includes a pair of substantially parallel discs [5 and it having radially extending sockets l1 therebetween for receiving the inner ends of the spokes I 3. These discs l5 and I6 may be held together in any suitable manner. A central aperture I9 is provided in the discs to permit a supporting standard to extend therethrough. other forms of the invention the spokes l3 are welded or soldered together or to a suitable coupling.

The lamp shade is provided with an outer fabric covering and an inner fabric covering 2|. These coverings may if desired be separately ap plied, as will be later described in detail. However, in the preferred form of construction illustrated, the coverings are connected together near their upper extremities. The coverings 2i} and 2| are cut to the proper pattern and the ends of each covering are terminally connected together to form a generally frusto-conical covering element.

The upper marginal edge of the outer covering 20 is provided with a hem 22 formed by doubling back the marginal edge of the covering and stitching the doubled edge along a row of stitching 23 parallel the doubled edge. A draw string 24 of a suitable type is threaded through the hem 22. This draw string 24 may be formed of resilient material so as to generally hold the covering in place upon the upper frame member I5, or may be formed of cord or string which may be drawn tightly about the frame In and secured in this position.

The frame If! includes a hollow cylindrical frame or shell 25 having at its upper extremity an inturned flange 25 which is provided with a downwardly turned marginal flange 21 parallel to the flange 25. A second inturned flange 29 is provided parallel the top flange 26 and this inturned flange 29 is bent to provide a downwardly and outwardly curved flange 35. This construction forms a circular recess or pocket 3| within which the hemmed edge 22 of the outer covering 23 may be anchored.

The upper marginal edge of the inner covering 2| is preferably folded back upon itself and stitched at its folded edge by a row of stitching 32 to the outer covering 20. The row of stitching 32 is arranged to overlie the top flange 26 on the vertical flange 25 to enable the stitching to be entirely concealed when the upper frame I3 is entirely assembled.

The frame In also includes a cylindrical flange 33 provided at its upper edge with an inturned flange 34 folded outwardly at its inner extremity to provide an outwardly turned flange 35 overlying the. flange 34. This construction is produced to provide a rounded edge 35 at the inner extremity of the flange 34. The cylindrical flange 33 is of proper diameter to frictionally engage over the cylindrical flange 25 and the lower extremity of the curved flange 30.

The spokes |3 may be connected to the frame member In in any suitable manner such as by welding or soldering the outer ends of these spokes l3 to the inturned flange 29. The inner covering 2| is provided with apertures 3'! in proper angularly spaced relation to encircle the spokes l3. The frame connecting members |2 may also be secured to the frame ID in any suitable manner such as by anchoring the upper extremities of these connecting members outward: ly of the cylindrical flange 27. With such a construction the upper ends of the connecting members |2 are enclosed within the inverted channel shaped top of the first described upper frame member.

The lower frame member likewise comprises two circular members indicated in general by the numerals 39 and 40. The ring 43 is preferably in general form the reverse of the inner ring member of the upper frame Ill. The ring 49 includes a cylindrical flange 4| connected at its lower extremity to an inwardly turned flange 42. The flange 42 is provided at its inner extremity with an upwardly turned marginal flange 43 parallel to the cylindrical flange 4|. At the upper extremity of the flange 4| I provide an inwardly turned flange 44 which is connected at its inner extremity to an upwardly and outwardly curved flange 45. Accordingly the frame member 40 is generally S-shape in cross section providing an external groove 43 within which the marginal edges of the coverings 20 and 2| may be anhored.

The frame member 39 is designed to engage the ring member 40 in assembled position of the lower frame The frame member 39 includes a cylindrical flange 4! having at its upper extremity an inwardly extending flange 49. The flange 43 is connected at its inner extremity to a series of lips 53. The lower edge of each lip 50 curls outwardly at 5| to engage under the natural resilient properties of the ring 39 beneath the flange 44 of the ring member 49 in assembled position of the frame The lower edge of the cylindrical flange 41 is connected by a lower curved edge 52 to an upwardly and inwardly curved flange 53 terminating against the outer surface of the flange 41. These lips 50 straddle the frame connecting members l2 in assembled position of the lower frame.

The lower marginal edge of the outer covering member 20 is provided with a hem 55 formed by a row of stitching 56 parallel to the folded lower edge of the material and a draw string or anchoring element 51 is threaded through the hem 55 to hold the lower marginal edge of the covering 20 in the groove 46 when the shade is assembled. Similarly the lower marginal edge of the inner covering 2| is folded upon itself and stitched with a row of stitching 59 to form a hem 60 through which the draw string or anchoring member 6| is threaded.

The construction of the shade and the frame elements has now been described. In orderthat the operation of assembling the shade be understood various views showing steps in the process of assembling the shade have been illustrated.

Let us consider that the inner and outer coverings 20 and 2| have been properly cut and the ends thereof terminally connected, as for example at the seam 62. The upper marginal edge of the inner covering 2| is also connected to the upper marginal edge of the outer covering 20 by the row of stitching 32 spaced from the hem 22. The inner covering 2| is next inserted in place, the spokes l3 extending through apertures 31 therein. This is usually accomplished before the coupling I4 is applied so that the material can be threaded over the spokes l3 from the center of the shade.

The upper marginal edge of the covering 2| is folded over the top flange 25 of the upper frame element 64' and the upper marginal edge of the covering 20 is folded outwardly of the cylindrical flange 25 so that the hem 2 lies outwardly of the groove 3| in this frame member. The draw string 24 is tightened if this draw string is formed of cord or the like. In the event the element 24 is a resilient element the hem 22 will be drawn into the groove 3| thereby.

The outer covering 20 is folded inwardly to overlie the top flange 26 of the upper frame element 64. The upper frame element 65 is then moved downwardly until the cylindrical flange 33 encloses the cylindrical flange 25 and the curved flange 30, and until. the inturned flange 34 rests upon the upper covering member 29. The upper frame I9 is then completely assembled and the flange 4| so that the hem 69 is positioned in the groove 46. The draw string 6| is then tightened, unless this draw string is formed of a resilient material which will spring together of its own accord. The inner covering 2| is so proportioned that when the draw string is tightened the covering will be stretched taut over the inner surface of the shade. The outer covering 29 is next attached to the lower frame member 49 in the manner illustrated in Figure '7 of the drawings. Before attaching the lower marginal edge to the frame element 49, the frame element 39 is enclosed within the outer covering as illustrated in Figure 7. In attaching the outer covering 29 to the frame element 49 the drawstring 51 is tightened in the groove 46 unless this string is a resilient element which anchors the covering edge within the groove 46.

The assembly of the shade is then completed.

by urging the frame element 39 into overlapping relation with the ring element 49. In order to engage the two frame members 39 and 49 together downward pressure is exerted on the frame member 39 through the outer covering 29. The frame member 39 encloses the upper marginal edge of the flange 45 and the cylindrical flange 41 thereof lies outwardly of the groove 46, thus urging the rounded lower edge 52 of the frame member 39 against the covering in a manner to stretch this covering taut. The covering 29 is so proportioned that when the curved edge 5| snaps over the lower edge of the flange 45, the covering 29 will be taut over the outer surface of the shade.

When the frame elements have been assembled as described the frames l9 and H, as well as the connecting elements l2 are entirely enclosed between the inner and outer coverings 29 and 2|. The frame members 39 and 49 are locked together by the resilience of the lip 59. By pressing upwardly on the portion of the outer covering 29 beneath the lower rounded edge 52 of the ring member 39, the two frame members 39 and 49 may be disengaged to permit the shade to-be removed or replaced. However, once the lower frame member is assembled both coverings 29 and 2| are stretched tight between the frames i9 and II and these frames are entirely concealed.

If desired the inner and outer coverings may be entirely separate and may be separately attached or removed. In Figure 8 of the drawings I disclose an inner covering 66 similar to the inner covering 2| and an outer covering 61 similar to the outer covering 20. The upper frame members 64 and 65 are identical to the upper frame members illustrated in Figures 2, 5, and 6 of the drawings. However, in the construction shown in Figure 8 of the drawings, the upper marginal edge of the inner covering 66 is folded upon itself and stitched at 69 to form a hem 19 through which is threaded a draw string or anchoring element 1|. In assembling the shade the first operation after the inner covering is threaded onto the spoke I3 is then to fold the upper edge of the inner covering 66 over the top of the upper at its frame member 64 and to anchor the hem 10 m the groove 3| thereof. The lower edge of the inner covering may next be anchored to the lower frame member H in the manner previously described. The outer covering 61 is provided with a marginal hem 12 including a draw string 13 or anchoring element, and as a next step of the process the upper marginal edge of the outer covering is anchored in the groove 3| The upper frame member 65 is then engaged with the frame member 64 in the manner previously described and the outer covering 61 is folded over the frame member 65.

In Figure 9 a slightly different method ofanchoring the outer covering to the bottom frame structure is illustrated. This lower frame com prises two ring shaped members 15 and 18. The

frame member 15 is identical to the frame member 49 previously described, and accordingly will not be described in detail. A peripheral groove 11 about the member 4:: permits the anchorage of the inner covering. The inner covering 19 is provided with a marginal hem enclosing a draw string 89 by means of which the coverin may beanchored.

The frame member 16 includes a cylindrical ring 8| having an outwardly extending flange 82 at the upper edge thereof. The lower edge of the ring 8| is curved at 83 and is connected to a' f curved outer flange 84 terminating at :its upper edge in an inwardly extending flange 85. Lips 86, similar to the lips 59, are designed to hook over the upper portion of the ring 15 as previously described to hold the two parts assembled.

The outer covering 81 is providedwith 9, mar-- ginal hem 99 which accommodates a split resilient ring or hoop 89 of wire or other such material. This rin may expand into the groove 9| just above the flange 82 so as to anchor the outer edge of the covering to the frame ring 16. In assembling this frame, the two rings 15 and 16 are merely telescoped together, the lips 86 holding the parts assembled.

My construction obviates long hours of tedious work in hand stitching the lamp shade coverings to the frame. With my construction it is only necessary to cut the coverings to proper shape, stitch frame in an extremely short period of time and equal pressure is applied about the entire circumference of the coverings so as to stretch the coverings evenly over the frame.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my lamp shades, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire to have it understood that these are only illustrative thereof and that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention. a

I claim:

1. A lamp shade comprising an upper frame, a lower frame, and a pair of coverings connecting said frames, at least one of said frames comprising a pair of substantially concentric ring-shaped elements arranged one within the other, a marginal edge of each covering extending around and between said ring shaped elements and concealed by said coverings.

2. A lamp shade comprising a pair of frame members. a pair of flexible covering members connecting said frame members, one of said frame members includin a pair of substantially concentric ring-shaped elements arranged one within the other, means anchoring a marginal edge of each of said coverings to a respective one of said ring-shaped elements, said marginal edges extending between said ring-shaped elements and concealed by said coverings.

3. A lamp shade comprising a pair of spaced ring-shaped frame members, means connecting said frame members to hold the same in spaced relationship, a pair of flexible coverings enclosing said frame elements, one of said frame members including a pair of ring shaped elements arranged one within the other, means anchoring a marginal edge of each covering to one of said ring shaped elements, said marginal edges being clamped between said ring-shaped elements and concealed by said coverings.

4. A lamp shade comprising a pair of spaced frame elements, means connecting said frame elements in spaced relation, and flexible covering members covering said frame members and enclosing the same, one of said frame elements including a pair of telescoping ring-shaped elements, the marginal edges of each of said coverings being clamped between said telescoping elements.

5. The method of attaching a lamp shade covering to a lamp shade frame comprising a pair of frame members which includes anchoring one edge of the covering to one of said frame members, clamping said marginal edge between said first frame member and a telescoping element, anchorin the other marginal edge of said covering to the second frame member, and anchoring said other marginal edge between said second frame member and a second telescoping element.

6. A lamp shade comprising a first ring shaped frame member and a second ring shaped frame member, means connecting said frame members in spaced relation, a pair of covering elements enclosing said first frame member, a peripheral groove about said second frame member, means anchoring the marginal edges of said covering members in said peripheral groove, and a ringshaped frame element overlying said second frame member and concealed by said coverings and clamping said marginal edges between said ringshaped element and said second frame member.

7. In a lamp shade, a pair of ring shaped members arranged one within the other, the inner ring member having a peripheral groove therearound and the outer ring member having an inturned flange overlying the inner ring member, an outer flexible covering member havin a marginal por- 8 tion contained in said groove and extending in folded relationship with said flange, and an inner flexible covering member having a marginal portion interleaved between said inner ring member and the folded portion of said outer covering member.

8. In a lamp shade, a pair of ring shaped members arranged one within the other, the inner ring member having a peripheral groove therearound and the outer ring member having an inturned flange overlying the inner ring member, an outer flexible coverin member having a marginal portion contained in said grooveand extending in folded relationship with said flange, and an inner flexible covering member having a marginal portion interleaved between said inner ring member and the folded portion of said outer covering member, said last mentioned portion edge being attached to said outer covering member.

9. In a lamp shade, a pair of ring shaped members arranged one within the other, the inner ring member having a peripheral groove therearound and an inwardly directed shoulder, the outer ring member having a projection extending inwardly into engagement with said shoulder, and inner and outer flexible coverin members having marginal edges contained in said groove.

10. A lamp shade including an upper frame, a lower frame, and a pair of coverings connected therebetween, said frames each including a pair of ring-shaped elements in coaxial relationship with one ring element externally of the other, the marginal edges of said coverings being anchored intermediate the ring-shaped elements and the coverings being substantially reversely folded about the ring shaped elements to form inner and outer coverings for the shade.

CLAIR F. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 758,535 Howden Apr. 26, 1904 935,841 Fife Oct. 5, 1909 1,173,572 Hawe Feb. 29, 1916 1,298,836 Vetter Apr. 1, 1919 1,340,307 Vetter May 18, 1920 1,447,191 Vetter Mar. 6, 1923 1,943,928 Pierce Jan. 16, 1934 2,037,941 Stadler Apr. 21, 1936 2,302,266 Sher Nov. 1'7, 1942 2,302,267 Sher Nov. 17, 1942 2,339,655 Sher Jan. 18, 1944 2,341,942 Nadler Feb. 15, 1944 

